Chandigarh, August 5
Thousands of candidates, who had come to Panchkula from far-flung areas to take a written examination conducted by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission, had to return disappointed following bungling by the supervisory staff appointed at one of the centres.

Some of the candidates had come even from the Tenga valley in Arunachal Pradesh.

The commission had set up 10 centres in Panchkula to conduct an examination for postgraduate teachers and school lecturers. While the examination for economics was to be held in the morning shift, the sociology examination was to be held in the evening shift.

The morning shift started at 10 a.m. At the centre established in Little Flower Convent School in Sector 14, Panchkula, the supervisory staff bungled. It distributed both economics as well as sociology question papers among the candidates. Initially, the candidates were confused. By the time the supervisory staff realised their mistake, one hour had passed.

The candidates got restive and they boycotted the examination. The situation worsened when the candidates started raising slogans against the commission. A member of the commission, Mr Ved Pal, was among the first to reach the centre. Soon after the Chairman, Mr Amir Chand Chawla, also reached there. However, the candidates could not be satisfied. They gheraoed the commission officials. The SDM, Panchkula, Mr M.S. Yadav, and the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Goel, too failed to pacify the agitated candidates and their supporters.

The district administration sent a strong police posse led by the ASP, which escorted the commission officials as well as the officers of the district administration to safe confines of the convent school. After discussing the issue for about an hour, Mr Chawla
announced the cancellation of the examination at all centres. He also held a meeting with representatives of the candidates.

Mr Chawla said the examination would be held again after about a month. The exact date would be announced after September 16. The roll numbers already issued to the candidates would remain valid.

The candidates demanded that they should be reimbursed the travelling expenses. Mr Chawla assured them that their demand would be considered sympathetically.

Mr Chawla told TNS that the question papers were set and printed by a private agency, which had sent sealed packets to the commission. The packets were handed over to the district administration, which distributed these among the supervisory staff just before the commencement of the examination today.

Mr Chawla said the private agency
had mistakenly packed the question papers of the two subjects together in one packet. This packet was opened by the supervisory staff at the Little Flower Convent School, which led to the avoidable bungling. He said the commission had decided to cancel the entire examination so that there would not be any scope for any allegation of leakage of the question paper. He said an inquiry had been ordered.

The examination was conducted for 64 posts of school lecturer (economics) and 24 posts of lecturer (sociology). The posts were advertised in 1999.

Chandigarh, August 5
All four Congress councillors here today decided not to contest the mayoral elections. The majority BJP-Akali alliance and one-member Chandigarh Vikas Manch have decided to boycott the election nominations for which begin tomorrow.

With the Congress decision technically all parties represented in the MCC have decided not to contest the mayoral election. The only member who has not yet indicated whether she will contest election or not is Bibi Harjinder Kaur of the Akali Dal, who had parted ways with the two-member councillor group but vowed her allegiance to the Shiromani Akali Dal president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. She has kept herself incommunicado and has not spoken about her intentions regarding the election, keeping all guessing.

The meeting of the BJP called by national General Secretary, Mr O.P Kohli, here today witnessed accusations and counter-accusations. Certain members criticised the decision of the party high command not to contest the mayoral election despite commanding a majority. A section of the councillors who number eight said the party was sending a wrong signal and exposing itself as a week party by not contesting the election.

They, however, vowed to abide by the party decision of not contesting the election, not seconding or proposing somebody’s name and not voting for anybody.

These members are also reported to have attacked the style of functioning of the local unit chief, Mr Dharampal Gupta, and asked Mr Kohli, to direct him to take along all sections of the party, sources said. Mr Kohli is said to have done so.

Pawan Kumar Bansal, Acting Mayor Gurcharan Dass Kala, former Mayor Rajkumar Goyal, all party general secretaries and vice-presidents, among others.

The party also decided to oppose the BJP and councillor Ms Satinder Dhawan’s resolution for the dissolution of the House when it comes up for discussion on August 8.

The Congress alleged that the BJP had decided not to contest the mayoral elections due to their dismal performance. The party alleged that the BJP was pressuring the Chandigarh Administration to dissolve the corporation ahead of the mayoral election or put it off.

The party also extended its support to the Chandigarh Housing Board residents’ struggle and opposed the new sales tax barrier, saying that it had been leading to frequent traffic jams.

Chandigarh, August 5
Common man's mobile, Wireless in Local Loop (WLL), introduced in the city by private sector company Connect at Rs 12,000-plus, will also be made available from August 15 by the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) at telephone’s price in addition to Rs 20 per month as insurance.

“The WLL mobile and fixed phones will be available for the people hopefully from August 15 as trials at Sector-34 exchange and Mani Majra have been successful on and initially 2,000 connections planned to be given,” the Chief General Manager, Telecom (CGMT), Punjab Circle, Mr S.C. Chaudhary, said at a press conference here today.

He said out of 2,000 connections to be given initially, 1,250 would be wireless but fixed whereas the rest 750 would be based on CDMA technology. There would be no airtime charge on them as against the cellular mobile.

He said the latter type would be effective within the radius of 5 to 7 km from Sector-34 and Mani Majra. It was likely to cover large parts of

Panchkula and SAS Nagar also and the calling rate was just Rs 1.20 per three minutes.

However, the monthly rental of this phone was Rs 400 per month against that of the common telephone which was Rs 250 per month. It would initially be provided to technically non-feasible areas where telephone facility could not be given, he said.

The instrument of the mobile costing about Rs 10,000 had been insured by the BSNL and a subscriber would be charged Rs 20 per month only for the instrument but the consumer was free to either buy his own equipment or pay for it.

Mr Chaudhary said the technology was almost faultless as no wires were used in the system adding that 10,000 more connections would be given to Chandigarh and Mohali, including 5,000 to Mohali alone during the current year.

The BSNL cellular mobiles would also be made available in the city by the end of the financial year at attractive rates, he said.

The BSNL would convert the Zirakpur exchange with an electronic exchange by August 15 and 41,000 lines would be added to Chandigarh this year.

He said out of 1,10,000 mobiles for the Punjab circle, Chandigarh would get 10,000 mobiles, Mohali 5,000, Panchkula 5,000 and Dera Bassi 1000.

The CGMT said exchanges at Balongi with 2,000 lines, Jhujeri with 1,000 lines, Dehri with 1,000 lines, Budana with 480 lines and Teur with 480 lines would come up in the Chandigarh telecom district.

He said the directory for the Chandigarh telecom district would be ready by this month and revised on the Internet every month from now onwards.

The CGMT said he would urge the authorities to bring call rates of WLL at par with the basic telephone at which initial 100 calls cost 80 paise, adding that initially the WLL mobile would not be able to access Internet as the cellular mobile could do.

He said the company had decided to replace five-year-old telephone instruments in the next three years. Those interested in WLL phones were only required to write an application that they had already applied for a phone and they opted for a WLL from those areas which were technically non-feasible, he added.

Chandigarh, August 5
About 4.6 lakh people in Punjab, Chandigarh and Panchkula will get basic telephone connections, 1,10,000 cellular phones, 51,000 mobile and fixed WLL phones with limited mobility, Internet dhabas at remaining 81 blocks and Internet nodes at 18 revenue districts by the end of this financial year. The Chief General Manager, Telecom, Punjab and Chandigarh Circle of BSNL, Mr S.C. Chaudhary, announced this here today in a press conference.

The Wireless in Local Loop
(WLL), with 5 to 7 km mobility, would begin from Chandigarh on August 15 with 2,000 connections — 1,250 fixed WLLs and 750 mobiles ones.

The WLL call charges are much below the cellular mobile at Rs 1.20 per three minutes and nothing is charged for receiving calls on this system. Monthly rental of this phone is little higher at Rs 400 per month.

As many as 51 cities, towns, all national highways and important state highways will get 1,10,000 cellular mobiles from BSNL by the end of the financial year, which is likely to open the market for this segment for competition and bring down airtime charges which are high in the region because of monopoly.

A new 6,000-trunk capacity exchange will be installed at Jalandhar, which will become only the second place to have such a facility after Chandigarh.

The whole circle, however, will get overall 83,000 trunk capacity exchanges which will reduce the possibility of line clogging.

Mr Chaudhary said telephone directories had been published in Amritsar, Patiala, Ropar, Sangrur, Ferozpore, Pathankot and Hoshiarpur telecom districts and that of Bathinda will be complete by the end of the month.

Ludhiana and Jalandhar will have their updated directories by the end of November, he said.

The CGMT said a toll-free tele-grievance cell would soon be available on 1094 for the whole circle. This number can be accessed by adding 0172 or 95172 before it , if it had to be accessed from places outside Chandigarh. This number will entertain those complaints which are not taken up by the district telecom authorities.

The company has also increased the frequency of the telecom adalats, making it every two months instead of every three months and a circle-level lok adalat has also been scheduled in the second week of September. It will be conducted by the CGMT.

The circle-level lok adalat to be conducted by the CGMT will now become a regular quarterly affair, Mr Chaudhary said.

The company has also finalised modalities to take rural Internet dhabas at all 140 blocks by allowing franchise system, for which the Punjab Government has shown willingness to financially help private persons. BSNL will provide free Internet accessibility. For city franchises the company will offer 1,500 hours of free access.

Chandigarh, August 5
The Deputy Superintendents of Police in the Chandigarh Police are sore
over the failure of the UT Administration to implement the new pay
scales, revised with effect from June 21, 2000.

Inspite of the police department having sent numerous reminders to the administration for implementing the new pay scales, it is reliably learnt that the issue is still biting dust.

The Chandigarh Police has as many as 11 police officers of the rank of DSP. Two of these 12 police officers were promoted to the rank of DSP in 1988, four in 1989, three in 1990 and two in 1992 (one of the officers was recently demoted to the rank of Inspector). The last officer to be promoted DSP was in 1993.

The pay scales of all government employees were revised with effect from January 1, 1996. The detailed guidelines issued by the Punjab government were adopted by the Chandigarh Administration in June last year. Since then the Deputy Superintendents of Police (UT cadre) are entitled to the grant of time- bound pay scales as per the service tenure.

A fresh appointee to the post of DSP is entitled to the pay scale of Rs. 7880 — 13,500 with the start of Rs 8000 as the entry scale, Rs 100025 — 15,100 after four years of regular service in the entry scale; Rs 12, 000 — 15, 500 after nine years of regular service in the entry scale; and, Rs. 14,300 — Rs. 18,150 after 14 years of regular service in the entry scale.

The revised pay scales provide that all placements in higher scales shall be given effect to the officer concerned from January 1 of the year next to the year in which an officer completes the span of service required for placement in a higher scale.

Thus, 10 of these officers (barring the one who has now been demoted and the last incumbent to the said post) are entitled to the revised pay scale of Rs. 10,025 — Rs 15,100 at least nine of them (promoted to the rank of DSP between 1988 and 1990) are entitled to the second grade of Rs 12,000 — Rs 15,500.

A senior police official said the reason for delay was nothing more than the administration’s apathy towards the Police Department.

Chandigarh, August 5
Perturbed over the rising number of encroachments and persistent violations of regulations around protected monuments, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has issued several notices to a number of defaulters in the region.

According to sources, about 25 notices have been issued in the past few weeks, asking defaulters to remove illegally constructed structures from within notified areas, failing which the structures would be demolished.

A large number of houses and in some cases factories and commercial establishments have cropped up over the years in areas notified as no-construction zones or regulated zones around protected monuments, the sources said.

The Kabuli Bagh Mosque in Panipat, Noorpur Fort near Shimla, Noor Mahal Sarai in Jalandhar, the fort of Prithvi Raj at Hansi, Bhim ka Tilla in Kangra, Harsha ka Tilla in Thanesar and ancients mounds in Khokhrakot near Rohtak, Sunet near Ludhiana and Rakhigarhi near Hisar are some of the protected monuments which are affected by encroachments.

Some government departments are have also occupied archaeological buildings and made alterations or built structures close to them.

According to the Ancient Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, no construction is allowed within a radius of 100 meters from the perimeter of the protected site, while construction within a zone of 200 meters is to be regulated.

ASI officials agree that removal of encroachments is an uphill task and will result in litigation. Already there are about 10 cases pending in various courts. Court orders staying further construction have been issued in a couple of cases.

Land dispute between the Central government and local authorities is a major factor. The sources say the directives to transfer archaeological land sites was issued before site plans and drawings were made.

Earlier, the ASI had sought the transfer of ownership of the archeological sites from the state governments to the Central government. The ASI has written to three state governments, highlighting the problems of encroachment and illegal structures around important monuments located in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh following which the process for transfer was initiated.

Following the ASI’s approach, the Himachal Pradesh Government transferred the possession of four ancient protected temples located in Mandi district from the state authorities to the Central government.

The ownership of an ancient mound located at Norangabad in Bhiwani district of Haryana has also been transferred to the Central government while the transfer of the Ther mound in Sirsa district is under way.

The Punjab Government is reported to have been issued directives to district administrations, seeking revenue records and other details of the sites concerned and passing instructions to the authorities to process paperwork involving the transfer of ownership.

While some of the sites are monuments others are ancient mounds — many of them dating back to the Harappan period — where excavation is being carried out.

Over the years, a large number of illegal structures have come up close to the monuments. The mounds have either been converted into fields for cultivating crops or structures have been built on them. This has damaged or destroyed them.

After the government issued notifications declaring some of the ancient monuments as protected sites, demarcation of the land was not undertaken promptly. Several monuments are located on land which is in the possession of panchayats or erstwhile provincial governments.

SAS Nagar, August 5
Family members of Karanbir Singh (13) who died due to drowning at the Phase 6 swimming pool on Thursday, have demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.

Highlights

As the circumstances leading to the drowning of Karanbir are unfolding, more facts about the state of affairs at the pool managed by PUDA are coming to light. Sources in the police said at the time when the incident took place, nearly 70 children were in the pool, the number of registered students in the pool were just 10. At times the number of children touched 1000.

A student, who was swimming at the time when the incident took place, had reportedly told swimming pool staff that the boy was swimming in a strange manner but no action was taken.

The lifeguard admitted that the filtration plant was not working properly and supply of bleaching powder was not regular. There was no grouping of the student to divide the beginners and trained children. No specific colour swimming caps were given to beginners.

They along with the CHB Flats Residents Welfare Association of Sector 55, where the victim lived, said they had not faith in the inquiry being conducted by PUDA. Terming the inquiry being conducted by PUDA officials as an eye-wash, the association said an independent inquiry by an outside agency should be conducted to prevent such happening in the future.

Demanding strict action against the negligent PUDA officials, the lifeguard and the attendants, the association has given a memorandum to the Governor, Punjab, the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister, and the Chairman of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission.

Mr B.R. Rangra, Mr G.S. Thakur and Mr H.S. Aulakh, all office-bearers of the association, said had the staff on duty acted immediately the life of the boy could have been saved. The body was found with the

help of trainers at around 6.45 p.m. The association said efforts were being made to hush up the matter.

Meanwhile, the lifeguard, Preet Bhupinder Singh, who alleged yesterday that he was illegally detained and beaten up by the police, today claimed that he did not know that something was wrong with the boy till the women session was over. The attendant and the junior engineer did not allow the family to search for the boy. “There was no check by PUDA on the number of children using the pool”, he said adding, that the PUDA officials had been time and again told to restrict the number of children. He claimed that he did not know when the boy drowned. I would have reacted to the situation if I had been alerted by someone”.

The coach, Manish Kumar, who has also been named in the FIR, said he was attending his MA (physical education) class at Panjab University when the incident took place. “ I was asked to sit in a car and taken to the police station. I had not visited the pool for the last few days”, he added.

Chandigarh, August 5
Heavy showers which lashed parts of the city late this afternoon came as a relief for residents.

However, the local meteorological office records show that the city received only a meagre amount of rainfall. The maximum temperature recorded today was 34.6°C, which is two degrees above normal.

Sky was clear and weather sunny in the morning but clouds appeared towards late afternoon, followed by rain in some parts. A large number of persons riding two-wheelers were caught unawares and many were seen taking shelter at bus stops and under trees.

Several Sectors received heavy though brief spell of rain, which resulted in water-logging. A report from Sector 37 said water on the road outside the temple stood knee-deep disrupting people’s movement.

Where parking
vehicle is a nightmarePradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 5
Visitors to the UT Sub Registrar’s Office, where property transactions worth lakh of rupees are conducted every day, are an inconvenienced lot.

Located in 30 Bays Building in Sector 17, the office lacks some of the basic amenities which are otherwise hallmark of several public offices in City Beautiful. The space available in the office is not adequate to provide necessary facilities like a tuck shop, toilets and proper sitting space for visitors.

Moreover, unnecessary rush is created in the room as there is no “digital flashing call system” to call the waiting public.

The parking of vehicles continues to be a major problem. With the parking of vehicles along the road in front of the 30 Bays Building continuing unabated, parking and taking out vehicles becomes an arduous task wasting valuable time of the visitors. With underground parking being used for dumping junk and condemded vehicles, the parking problem has worsened.

It’s not that NGOs and public-spirited persons had not taken up the matter with the authorities concerned. Mr R.P. Malhotra, president of Samadhaan, a pressure group for social justice, had taken up the matter regarding traffic congestion in front of the 30 Bays Building and the approach to the Estate Office and the Central State Library with the local MP, Mr Pawan Bansal, last month. Mr Bansal had, in turn, referred the proposal of Mr Malhotra to the Adviser to the UT Administrator, but a concrete proposal was yet to be worked out by the Chandigarh Administration.

To ease traffic bottleneck, Samadhaan had suggested a minor re-alignment of the road at the back of the library by including a few yards of the land of the library into the road and removal of the existing cycle shed in front of the 30 Bays Building. This coupled with the banning of parking in front of the 30 Bays Building and adequate use of the underground parking space will go a long way in easing traffic congestion.

If that was not possible the group had suggested the shifting of the office as a large number of typists, stamp vendors and advocates would have to accompany the office, easing traffic congestion.

Chandigarh, August 5
Ashok Bansal — a good Samaritan who says Chandigarh is callous and its people are indifferent. Heartwarming incidences still happen which reiterates your faith in humanity and humans alike. At least today, one newborn baby and her mother have a lot to thank residents of Chandigarh — for their timely help and kindness.

Ashok Bansal, a Samaritan

Mr Ashok Bansal, a local businessman, and his wife, Shashi Bansal, while on their way to Sector 15 at around 8 a.m. saw a woman desperately trying to stop their car on the road separating Sectors 10 and 11.

When the couple stopped the car, they were astonished to see a young woman lying on the roadside who had just delivered a baby. “The mother was in pain and bleeding and the woman accompanying her had already snapped off the umbilical cord with a knife,” said Mr Bansal.

The couple admitted her and her child to the General Hospital, sector 16. Doctors on duty were obviously disturbed over the fact that baby was delivered on the roadside and the umbilical cord was cut with an unsterilised knife. “But we apprised them of the situation and persuaded them to admit the mother and the child in the hospital.”

When the TNS team visited the hospital this afternoon, Mr Bansal was there as Shobha and her 2.7 kg baby girl required some more help. “We have shown the baby to a child specialist who has prescribed antibiotics and other precautions. I hope the baby and the mother do not have any further problems,” said a doctor.

Ramkali, Shobha's sister-in-law, who had accompanied her from their house in Kansal village to the hospital, said Shobha had delivered the child while on way to the hospital. “In the morning when Shobha told me to take her to the hospital, we had no indication that the baby would be delivered in the rickshaw itself. Faced with the situation, I did not know what to do and unwittingly snapped the cord with a knife, the rickshaw-pullar managed to get from somewhere,” she added.

“Fortunately, a senior lecturer in the Sector 11 Government College stopped to help and also managed to get a car to take us to the hospital,” said Ramkali.

Happy with the good deed he had done, Mr Bansal does wonder why people normally do not stop to help when they come across such incidences or accident cases on the roadside. “Maybe they fear getting entangled with the police and other legal formalities”, says Mr
Bansal.

Chandigarh, August 5
Mr Des Raj Tandon, Councillor of Ward Number 3, is leader of the BJP-SAD combine in the House. Mr Tandon is one of the seniormost party leaders who came into politics through the Jana Sangh, the earlier `avatar’ of the BJP and was Senior Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Corporation last year. In his election manifesto, he had resolved to be easily accessible to the people. Looking back, he feels he has been able to honour his commitment.

Excerpts from his interview:

Q: What have been your achievements during the term?

A: While listing of all achievements is
difficult, I would like to mention a few; Removal of encroachments from near Kiran cinema and other shopping areas, particularly in Sector 22-D and opposite the bus stand. I also got the MC to clear heaps of concrete lying on vacant plots and convert these areas into parks. I had hoteliers remove encroachments which they had made. Besides, cinema hall owners were made to revert the MC land for parking. Earlier, the same was being used by them as private land. New parking lots came up and many existing ones were expanded to ease the traffic flow. Augmentation of lighting in Sector 16 and development of green belts in the area . A proposal was also mooted to remove ‘apni mandi’ and develop a green belt in its place.

To contain water logging in low lying areas, road gullies were installed in Sectors 16 and 22. Besides, strengthening, recarpeting and patchwork of V-4 and V-5 roads was also got done. To deal with water shortage in Sector 17, a new tubewell was installed. Rear lanes in some of my area were also cleansed up twice.

Q: What do you think you could not do for the electorate? Why?

A: My greatest regret is that despite the House having approved a resolution moved by me regarding the beautification of Sector 17 in 1998, nothing much could be achieved in that regard. However, some cleanliness and maintenance drives were undertaken during the tenure of former Mayor, Mr Gian Chand Gupta.

I also regret that residents did not welcome the proposal of providing material for sprucing up the back lanes, though, the labour was to be provided by the MC. As a result, only three backlanes in Sector 22 have been completed along with the gates. A lot still needs to be done in terms of providing storm water drains and road gullies in these areas. The officers concerned, despite repeated reminders, have not done anything to beautify the entrance to Sector 22 from along the V-5 road towards the bus stand as I had proposed.

Q: How did you use the corporation forum to redress the grievances of the people?

A: As a matter of routine, I ring up the officials concerned, almost everyday, before 8 am to take up the problems which were brought to my notice. In most of the cases, I visit the site to get a first hand account of the problem and ensure that the same is redressed at the earliest. However, I am resentful of the present team of officials who hesitate to visit the spot, even if the problem is a major one. Things were quite different when Mr S.K. Gathwal was the Commissioner as he always agreed to visit the spot.

Q: What promises did you extend during your election campaign?

A: I had made promises broadly in line with what was contained in the party’s election manifesto. This included non-imposition of direct taxes on the public, such as the house tax and octroi duty for parking. Even while passing the property tax in the House, we had ensured that imposition of such a tax on residential property was kept out. However, the residences which are being used for commercial purposes will be taxed. Besides, we had promised transparency in the administration, construction of roads, development of parks, and proper supply of water and power.

My promise to the voters in my ward was “whenever you call me, you will find me with you.’’ I am proud to say that I lived upto it.

Q: How responsive has been your party towards your electorate’s grievances?

A: Though I worked independently as a councillor, yet party leaders gave me encouragement by lauding my work, particularly the development in Sectors 16 and 22. I worked in the interest of the party and it also stood by me.

Q: How supportive has been the bureaucracy to you as a councillor?

A: Senior officials have been quite cooperative. But I am very resentful about the attitude of lower rung officials they adopt delaying tactics and hinder work on frivolous grounds. I am sure, much more could have been accomplished had they been more cooperative.

Q: Would you like to recontest the election?

A: I am satisfied with my performance since I always strived to work hard in the interest of the public and the development of the city. I have also come up to the promises made by me and my party in the manifesto. Recontesting in the forthcoming elections depends on the party’s decision in this regard.

Q: What advice will you give to your successor, if you do not contest this time? What must he do for the electorate by overcoming the party and bureaucratic hurdles?

A: My successor should try to take optimum benefit from my experiences in the ward. He should meet me so that he does not waste time and energy in undertaking some of the works which have been already rendered by me. Secondly, he must adopt a more firm attitude in dealing with officials to get the work done. He should make an agenda and work earnestly on it. Lastly, he should not tolerate anything done wrongly. He must be loyal to both the party and the public.

Q: Why should the voter vote again for you?

A: It is immaterial what works I had accomplished during my tenure as a councillor. I am sure of one thing that I have done nothing against the public interest. My relationship with the public has been cordial and I am hopeful on that regard.

Q: What have you personally gained by being a councillor?

A: I have widened my network of contacts by meeting people from different walks of life as a councillor. Besides, I have also earned a rich and varied experience of serving the cause of the people. I have never worked for any personal profit. It has always been the party and the people for whom I worked.

Promises

* No direct taxes to be imposed —- House Tax and Octroi tax.

*
Transparency in administration.

* To solve the problem of waterlogging in the area.

*
To improve the condition of roads and ensure cleanliness.

*
To provide more green belts and parks and clear encroachments.

Performance

* House Tax and Octroi Tax have not been imposed. Even in the case of the tax on
property, residential areas have been exempted.

* Successful in highlighting various scams and other misdeeds.

*
Storm water drains and road gullies have been provided to tackle the problem of
waterlogging.

* All V-4 and V-5 roads in the ward except Sectors 22 A and D, have been completed.

*
Cleanliness of Sectors 17 and 22 was given priority.

*
Green belts were developed and encroachments were removed.

STATE OF ROADS
Road even pedestrians prefer to avoidTribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 5
The persistent rains during the monsoon have further damaged majority of the internal and external roads of Sector 45. In fact, the condition of the V-3 road separating Sectors 44 and 45 and Sectors 44-C and 45-D have deteriorated to such an extent that a part of this road has almost vanished at the T-junction before it meets the outer Dakshin Marg.

What to talk of driving, even walking on these roads is not all that easy. Poorly laid down tarmac riding surface is dotted with potholes of the size of craters, cracks and depressions on majority of the roads in this area. The patchwork done a few months back on these roads has also been washed away due to accumulation of water on the road surface for long durations. Officials of the road wing, when contacted, said due to heavy flow of traffic and absence of regular maintenance, the surface had weakened to such an extent that even the patchwork does not stay here. Regular plying of vehicles on the already broken road leads to more damage.

The 44-foot-wide road has a heavy flow of traffic of buses and trucks going to various cities of Punjab. Further, since both these sectors are thickly populated and the number of schools in Sector 44 have grown manifold in the last few years, the roads are being put to massive use.

Residents of the area, who are rather sore about its proper upkeep and maintenance, point out that water leakages due to inadequate storm water drainage have further led to the weakening of these roads in many areas. The journey, particularly on the V-3 road leading to the outer Dakshin marg, is never jolt free, complain the residents, whether they go on their own vehicles or by rickshaws on these roads. For a few other old people residing in these sectors, it is a testing time to travel on these roads as they can put their ‘‘springs’’ and spine to test.

In fact, driving on these roads has become a driver’s nightmare, especially during the night, when the drivers fail to notice the depressions, which has resulted in several accidents. Going by the state of potholes, most of which have turned into virtual craters, it will not be surprising if a heavy vehicle like a bus overturns while passing from here some day. It’s high time the officials concerned took a serious note of these potholes.

The condition of the outer Dakshin marg is no better as at many places water remains accumulated in the potholes after it rains. It is the worst near the T-junction, near Colony No 5, where the condition is rather pitiable and the stretch has been reduced to a street of cobbled stones.

While the residents blame the MC authorities for turning a blind eye to the persistent problem, the MC officials are unable to repair the roads due to financial constraints. The said road now with the MC, was earlier with the engineering wing of the Administration, and the sorry state of affairs only indicate that the Administration had made no efforts to strengthen the same.

Sources disclose that every road needs recarpeting after a span of five years, keeping in view the traffic intensity. Since the MC at present has no funds, it figures among the list of those V-3 roads which are being sent to the UT Administration for widening, strengthening and recarpeting as a one-time measure.

SAS Nagar, August 5
The Indian Overseas Youth Congress, UK, and Europe, has said that the families of NRIs living in Punjab are not secure and have a grievance against the state government in this regard.

Stating this, Mr Gurpal Singh, president of the UK and Europe unit, who was in town today, said the Punjab Government had been persuading NRIs to set up industrial units in the state, but when they tried to do so they faced harassment in government offices. He objected to the ill-treatment meted out to NRIs at airports.

He said the SAD-BJP Government in Punjab had done little for the development of the state. Corruption, injustice and red tape were rampant. Industrial units were being closed down, resulting in an increase in unemployment.

Mr Gurpal Singh said the people of the state were waiting for the Assembly elections when they would get an opportunity to get rid of the SAD-BJP Government. He said PPCC President Amarinder Singh had a clean image and asserted that the party would form the next government in the state.

Mr Gurpal Singh has been meeting Congress leaders in Punjab to know about the preparations of the party for the coming poll. He had also met party chief Sonia Gandhi in Delhi and said he was touring the state in accordance with her wish that the party should be strengthened.

He said there were six branches of the Indian Overseas Congress in the UK — London, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Manchester and Leeds. Efforts were on to set up units in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and Holland.

Chandigarh, August 5
The Disha Group of Alcoholics Anonymous organised a special meeting of its members at the Sector 10 Museum and Art gallery today to celebrate its second anniversary. About 150 members and their families attended the meeting where they were introduced to those who had joined them today itself.

The meeting was attended by a cross-section of society including professionals, senior government officials, students, rich and not so rich who believe if you admit that you are an alcoholic there’s hope for you.

Mr Anil, who after being an alcoholic for years is now helping others get over their addiction, says “sharing his or her experiences with others , makes all the difference. An alcoholic is an egoistic person who is likely to deny any kind of authoritative advice. But in these meetings no one says, do not drink. The same message is instead delivered by sharing and saying, I am an alcoholic and this is what makes the difference”.

According to Dr Hardeep Singh, a psychiatrist working with the group, says, alcoholism is a form of drug dependence and a psychiatric illness. “The urge and craving to have yet another drink comes from the brain. And usually the alcoholics are stubborn and narcissist people who think that whatever they say or do is the best,” he adds.

The basic treatment involves two aspects and one of these is management of disease by detoxification. “ Withdrawal symptoms are very painful and a person tends to have hot flushes, headaches and even epileptic fits. There have been cases when patients have gone into a state of delirium as a withdrawal symptom. Moreover, de-addiction is not possible without the help of drugs which may take as long as four months to act. Here is where the role of groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous comes into picture, to give constant support and encouragement to the patients”, he adds.

Ms Suman Gupta of the Alcohol De-addiction Centre, Lajpat Rai Bhavan, Sector 15 also talked about her experiences of dealing with alcoholics and the role of the association in treating them.

Chandigarh, August 5
Yoga is a panacea for body and mind. It could keep the mental balance perfect and body resistant to many ailments, provided it is practiced under the supervision of an able yoga practioner, said Prof M. Lal, a yoga exponent, here today.

He was speaking on the occasion of third death anniversary of Swami Devi Dayal Ji Maharaj, organised by the Chandigarh Yoga Sabha, in the local Nehru Yuva Kendra.

Mr Balramji Das Tandon, Minister for Local Bodies, was the chief guest.

Prof Lal opined that one could practice yoga irrespective of one’s age according to his capacity. Yoga has very simple ‘asanas’ to be used as preventive and curative measures. It is the only therapy which could cure any ailment without any medication. Normally people mistook yoga with acrobatics, aerobatics, whereas yoga could be practiced in one’s bedroom or even sitting or lying on the cot. It keeps the mental balance and provide solace and succour. It also relieve one of miseries, troubles and provide mental peace, he added.

Mr Roshan Lal and Mr G.S.Verma of the Sabha had organised ‘dhyan’ and ‘bhakti yoga sadhna’, treatment of ailments through yoga sessions. A workshop on treatment of various ailments and ‘hawan yajna’ was also organised to pay homage to the Maharaj.

Mr Tandon said the new generation was being tempted to drugs which is not good sign for society. Yoga is the only therapy which can cure body and mind ailments and keeps a person fit for performing one’s job with proficiency. He also announced Rs 21,000 for the sabha from his discretionary quota. Justice M.M. Punchhi, former Chief Justice of India, was also present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, August 5
A meeting of the Chandigarh Housing Board Residents Federation (CHBRF) here yesterday served a month’s ultimatum to the Chandigarh Administration to implement its major demands, including delinking the issue of regularisation of alterations, and warned that if it was not done, its struggle would intensify.

The meeting in a resolution hoped that the Administration officials will restrain themselves and respond positively to democratic forces.

The residents are demanding the reduction of transfer of ownership fee to 5 per cent on the pattern of Punjab, doing away with the five year clause of transfer of ownership from the GPA and a reasonable compensation fee.

Chandigarh, August 5
The road to peace has never been easy, but here is something which offers the much-required guidance on how to take it. Life Positive magazine, the dream project of Parveen Chopra, who left mainstream journalism to pursue a deeper cause in life, has now been around for five years, with a promise of hope and peace to its readers.

Launched in April, 1996, as the first-ever body-mind-spirit magazine of the country, this product has traversed vast stretches in the field rather too fast — fast enough to acquire trust of people, and also get them to react and question. As for the product, its strength lies in that it takes a holistic view on issues close to life. As Parveen Chopra, Editor-in-chief of the magazine, puts it: “We believe that every system of meditation works in totality. There can be no situation where the body is affected and the mind is left immune.”

From this statement of Parveen Chopra flows the thrust of Life Positive magazine. “It’s a people’s guide to holistic living; a literal retreat for all those who seek to achieve happiness by being one with the self as also the surroundings.” Talking to the man who made the magazine happen was an experience in itself. In town to spread awareness about what the magazine and its content are all about, Parveen Chopra and his comrade in the larger cause, Mr Vipin Arora, have been exploring the city market.

The idea is to let people know that there is now an easy availability of something which can be called as a collector’s item, packed with practical information about alternative systems of medicine, positive thinking, yoga and meditation and new, wholesome strategies for success. The latest issue of the magazine carries a cover story on the art of happiness, as explained by none other than the Dalai Lama himself. In fact, the Dalai Lama sums up the purpose of all existence when he says: “We are all born to be happy.”

It’s this very objective that the magazine aims to pursue. As the conversation progressed, Mr Chopra, a trained transcendental meditation expert himself, chose to share the genesis of the magazine. He went back to the days when, as a Copy Editor in India Today, he had done two stories on the subject. Both stories ( titled New generation of spiritual gurus and Personal growth therapy, respectively) evoked wide responses from unexpected quarters of the country. Recalled Mr Chopra: “We were flooded with mail wherein people seemed to be thirsting for more information on the subject. That is when I realised that any project catering to this particular need had great potential in the country. That was when this seed was sown.”

As of today, the magazine is being developed as a non-denominational project, meant to respond to needs of people in small towns, as also in metros. Under the stewardship of Mr Chopra, direction is expected to come easy, for he is himself a trained practitioner. The very first training he underwent was that of transcendental meditation in Maharishi Yogi’s ashram in Rishikesh.

The magazine team, which is currently exploring the city market, will also hold promotional tours to Kochi, Bangalore and
Pune.

Panchkula, August 5
Evenings in the city are not a classy affair which one would expect in the city often referred to as the Paris of India. Bereft of rollicking music, clicking of glasses and neon lights, the city leaves little for residents to do after sunset.

While the adjoining Chandigarh plays host to a variety of cultural events, entertainment of the residents of Panchkula happens once in a blue moon. If at all there is some programme, it fails to live up to the expectations and has hardly any takers.

Largely dependent on Chandigarh for its needs, the city is yet to come of age. Whether it is the marketplace, cinema halls or eating joints, Chandigarh still holds the key. With residents preferring to buy from Chandigarh, business is also very low key affair in the city.

The only happening place, going by the crowds that throng the market each evening, is Sector 7. The whole of the marketplace presents a lively picture and the public can be seen clustered around rehriwalas, savouring the tangy gol-guppas.

Of course, the city does have a ‘geri-route’ to its credit for the youngsters bursting with energy and enthusiasm. However, the zipping mobikes and honking cars remains confined to Sector 7 and Sector 8, contributing to the evening traffic chaos.

For those uninterested in venturing out to the busy market places, there are well planned gardens where walks can be a rejuvenating affair, the Topiary park, Cactus garden and Nijhar vatika being the best options available.

“The city seems dead if you venture out of the house after 9 pm. The only faces that can be seen are those of ice-cream vendors standing under streetlights. The city hardly holds any interest for a young couple with no discos to boost of . Also, Chandigarh being close enough, it is a better bet.” said Ms Akanksha Sharma, a resident of Sector 4.

Residents suggest that zing can be put into the evenings in Panchkula can be added with a little initiative from the government. “The government can begin by holding functions in the city and by giving it a much-needed auditorium. This will gradually attract private parties and make it a much more happening place,” said Mr S.K. Nayar, a resident of Sector 15.

Chandigarh, August 5
The local unit of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) today organised a nagar kirtan programme at Panchkula as a part of Janamashtami celebrations. The “Jhoolan yatra” programme which was to be concluded here today has been extended by a day, according to Bhakti Vinod Dasa Prabhu, president, local unit of ISKCON.

As a part of Krishna Janamashtami celebrations, a special programme will also be held at the Community Hall, Sector 14, Panchkula on August 10 from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Strange are the ways of the Chandigarh Housing Board(CHB). While it provides a particular facility to certain allottees, the same facility is denied to other allottees belonging to the same category.

A case in point is the “faulty” design of the LIG flats in Sector 44-C. While the board has provided garages to the first floor and second floor and corner ground floor allottees, the other ground floor allottees are not that lucky. “This is a strange sort of discrimination and causes a lot of heartburning and inconvenience to the ground floor allottees”, alleges Mr Jagat Mohan Aggarwal, a resident of the sector.

The CHB may not rectify all shortcomings in the designs but surely it must provide uniform facilities to the allottees of one particular category, he adds.

Posted out

The Commandant of the locally based Transport Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, Mr A S
Chinna, has been posted to the force headquarters at New Delhi. Mr
Chinna, who commanded the battalion for over two years, has now been appointed Commandant Staff (Administration). During his tenure here, he was responsible for commissioning a workshop to fabricate bodies of buses and trucks inducted into the
ITBP.

Meanwhile, the battalion’s second-in-command, Mr S.S. Harta, has been appointed the officiating commandant, till the time a new commandant is posted here. The battalion is responsible for meeting all transport requirements of the force as well as maintenance and overhaul of vehicles.

Road to nowhere

To believe the board or one‘s eyes — this was our dilemma when we came across this board (see picture) near St Kabir School in Sector 26.While the board proclaimed that the route No 3 to Panchkula had been completed over a month ago, in reality the road is far from being complete.

Only a part of the road has been completed and it would be quite sometime before it would be fit for use.

To avoid confusion the department concerned should either remove the misguiding board or complete the construction work for the sake of credibility.

Headless

Believe it or not, three of the four Congress organisations have been headless for quite some time. These organisations are the Sewa
Dal, Mahila Congress and Youth Congress.

Informed sources say the Sewa Dal and the NSUI have been without Presidents. These posts have not been filled for the past one year.

The President of the Chandigarh Youth Congress was,
however, removed following his appointment as General Secretary of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress, as announced by Mr Pankaj Sharma, observer appointed by the Indian Youth Congress for the membership drive.

Insiders say that the Municipal Corporation elections will take place very shortly.

Senior leaders feel that the party might suffer in the elections because of the failure of the Congress High Commands to fill these posts.

Telecom blues

The telecom department blues are not meant for ordinary residents alone. Sometimes, even highly placed officials also have to bear the brunt of faults in the system. These days, it has become a little difficult to get in touch with the UT Home Secretary at his residence phone
number. The telephone directory of the UT Administration mentions the residence phone number of Mr R.S. Gujral as 741095. But this number is not-functional. So when you dial, a charming voice on the other side says: Service to the dialled number has been temporarily withdrawn”.

Given the state of affairs, anyone who wishes to contact Mr Gujral at home must take the trouble of calling up at his UT Secretariat office and taking his actual number from the office people.

“Khula darbar”

Frequent khula darbars organised by the Panchkula district administration to redress the grievances of the public appears to have failed as the same complaints continue to pour in repeatedly .

Hundreds of civil and criminal complaints throughout the state, which are taken up by the authorities were brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner repeatedly but were referred to the authorities of departments concerned for necessary action.

However, the administration time and again claims that a total of ‘‘such’’ complaints, including ‘‘such’’ of ‘‘A’’ department were taken up and the rest of ‘‘B’’ were solved on the spot.

Complainants start assembling from far away places early in the morning and some times the complainants have to wait for long hours due to the inadequate arrangements made by the authorities for the massive gathering.

In public viewpoint these Khula Darbars have turned into the eye-wash centres for them.

A wet experience

Nowadays walking in the verandahs outside the decked up shops in the famous Sector 17 piazza can be a wet experience. Not that the roofs of the verandahs leak or the rain troubles you. Instead, water keeps on falling in droplets on one’s head due to the airconditioners.

These ACs — all of them split type — have been set up by shopkeepers in unique places. These may be 15 feet high just above the signboard of the shop. Iron frames are used to hold up the body of the AC. The cold air is carried from the AC to the inside of the shop through special pipes.

The water generated by the ACs in this humidity keeps on dripping in the verandahs and on the head and clothes of the customers.

ID gift

It is a gift the UHBVN plans to give to its residents on Independence Day. The gift is a portable transformer to attend to any breakdowns which crop up at unearthly hours, putting not only the residents to a lot of inconvenience but also the employees who attend to the complaints.

The department officials are very enthusiastic about the new acquisition, the first of its kind in the city. “It can supply electricity for four to six hours without interruption. This will help us buy time to attend to the fault without the phone constantly ringing and residents breathing down our necks,” an official said.

The residents, too, have heaved a sigh of relief with the new arrangement scheduled to take off in a week’s time. And yet the question remains: is a single transformer enough to cater to a city with its ever-increasing boundaries? At least a beginning has been made, says the optimist.

Now buffets in open

Now you need not worry about money if you wish to have a sumptuous buffet. Many restaurants and sweet shops in Panchkula are now serving the area residents a delightful meal for just about Rs 50.

A specific mention in this regard goes to Katani sweet shop and restaurant in Panchkula’s Sector 16. The restaurant has been serving buffet to clients for sometime now and it has so won over the customers that every night there are about 15 to 20 people sitting in the open enjoying the economic package which includes at a time (in vegetarian menu) vegetable pulao, shahi paneer, mixed vegetable, curd and green salad.

Where on the one hand, the shop is doing well to offer variety at cheap rates, on the other it’s being noticed also for the fact that it’s using the adjoining government land to enhance business. A corner shop as it is, the section of land adjoining the shop is being used to lay the buffet. A small gate has also been provided on prime land of Panchkula Municipal Council. Wonder if the government was noticing and if this was an encroachment of sorts!

Exhibition

An art and design exhibition was organised by students who had recently completed the fashion design course at the Institute of Vocational Courses, being run by the Punjab Ex-servicemen Corporation (PESCO) at Sector 34.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Brig K.S. Chandpuri, whom the popular Hindi film “Border” is based. He appreciated the work done by the students. He also went around the institution’s computer laboratory as well as the finance and taxation courses being run for the wards of ex-servicemen.

Chairman of PESCO, Maj Gen- U.S. Sidhu, informed the gathering that in the last batch, the institute had trained 92 students in various employment oriented courses. A preparatory course for NDA entrance examination is also being started shortly.

Green action plan

The Environment Society of India (ESI) and its sister organisations have welcomed the Green Action Plan (GAP) launched by the Chandigarh Administration and the constitution of a task force under the chairmanship of the Deputy Conservator of Forest with members from Horticulture organisations of CPWD, Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh.

The GAP lays more stress on planting of native trees not only in the sectors but also in the leisure valley. Under this plan, saplings are supplied to the individuals, NGOs and GOs free of cost from the five nurseries of the forest department located around the city. However, a visit to these nurseries reveal that neem and mango (nature plants) saplings are not available. To support the GAP, the ESI has started raising these saplings at its nurseries and will supply 10,000 such plants next year.

The GAP has not mentioned the important aspects of plantation. Pits should be of the size of 1x1x1 metres. The soil should be mixed with rotten cowdung in the ratio of 3:1 parts. Planting distance depends upon the spread of the tree. In most cases, the citizens don’t remove the plastic bags and the plant do not develop and die. To support this campaign, the ESI has organised a number of workshops in and around the city.

Nothing will happen

On Thursday, a Chandigarh Tribune team went to the Mani Majra motor market to do a story on encroachment there. While the lenseman was busy taking pictures of the encroachments, the correspondent decided to speak to a scrap dealer who had piled up junk in corridor and was thus blocking the passage.

When the correspondent asked him why he had blocked the corridors, he snapped back: ‘‘Who are you to question me?’’ With a little hesitation, the correspondent introduced himself.

The scrap dealer, became somewhat docile. The correspondent rephrased his question and asked: ‘‘Doesn’t the Municipal Corporation people ask you to clear the corridor?’’ The dealer smiled and replied with an air of confidence: ‘‘Nothing will happen’’.

Chandigarh, August 5
A 26-year-old woman committed suicide by hanging herself at her Sector-24 residence this morning.

According to information, Urmila was suffering from depression. Her husband, employed as a peon at a private factory in Panchkula, had gone out when the incident took place. She hanged herself from the hook of ceiling fan with the help of a saree.

Bolero jeep stolen: Four cases of theft were reported during the past 24 hours.

A Mahindra Bolero jeep (HR-03C-7371) was stolen from outside the Sector 44 residence of Mr. H.P. Bakhshi. A Bullet motor cycle (CH-01Z-1844) was stolen last night while it was parked outside Hotel Monarch in Sector 35.

In another case, a scooter (CHQ-3402) was stolen from the Sector 56 residence of Mr. Sadiq Massih.

A mobile phone was stolen from a fast food joint in Sector 17 yesterday.

In all four cases, the police has registered FIRs under section 379, IPC.

Two arrested: Two persons —Sanjay Kumar and Rakesh — have been arrested on charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and impersonation. The duo were driving a car with a fake registration number (CH-01W-8368) when they were stopped by a naka party near Government High School, Maloya. The police party discovered that the registration number of the car was fake and that the original number of the car was CH-01B-3174. It was later discovered that the car was stolen last year and an FIR had been registered in this regard at the Police Station, Sector 39.

One held: Mohammad Sajid was arrested last night on charges of selling tickets of “Gadar” film in the black market near Jagat Cinema. A case under section 7-C of the Punjab Cinema Act has been registered.

In another case, Bhola was arrested on charges of consuming liquor at a public place near his residence in Nehru Colony last evening.

In both cases, FIRs have been registered.

KHARAR

Four arrested: The police has arrested four persons and registered a case against many others when an attempt was made to take possession of a property in nearby Ballo Majra village last night.

According to the police a case under Section 323, 427, 506, 148, 149, 447 and 448, IPC has been registered against Kesar Singh, Balbir Singh, Sanjiv Kumar, Makhan Singh and Ude Partap and others. The police has arrested Balbir Singh, Sanjiv Kumar, Makhan Singh and Udey Partap in this connection.

SAS NAGAR

Punwire case: The local police has registered at least 14 cases against officials of Punwire for being involved in cases of cheating and forgery.

Chain snatched: Two scooter borne youths snatched away a gold chain of a woman near the residence of Mr Rattan Lal Kataria (MP) on Saturday evening. When the incident occurred, the security men of the MP were present there. The youths were chased, but they managed to escape. A case has been registered.